Thinking about starting a business in San Antonio, Texas? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in San Antonio.
San Antonio has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for San Antonio demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in San Antonio.
As a new San Antonio entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in San Antonio for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of Businesses |
| Advertising Agencies |
62 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
5 |
| Ambulance Services |
23 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
4 |
| Amusement Arcades |
11 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
4 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
31 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
131 |
| Armored Car Services |
6 |
| Art Dealers |
14 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
15 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
8 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
33 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
211 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
43 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
19 |
| Barber Shops |
31 |
| Beauty Salons |
380 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
14 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
96 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
3 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
6 |
| Boat Dealers |
8 |
| Book Publishers |
9 |
| Book Stores |
53 |
| Books Printing |
3 |
| Bowling Centers |
10 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
13 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
44 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
66 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
10 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
4 |
| Car Washes |
92 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
38 |
| Caterers |
39 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
9 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
7 |
| Child and Youth Services |
46 |
| Child Day Care Services |
360 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
24 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
105 |
| Claims Adjusting |
25 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
40 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
111 |
| Collection Agencies |
19 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
7 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
49 |
| Commercial Photography |
16 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
18 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
6 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
58 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
15 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
154 |
| Computer Training |
12 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
11 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
106 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
21 |
| Convenience Stores |
163 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
18 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
9 |
| Couriers |
39 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
14 |
| Credit Bureaus |
7 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
100 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
5 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
121 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
3 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
3 |
| Dance Companies |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
39 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
56 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
16 |
| Digital Printing |
5 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
42 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
15 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
49 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
11 |
| Discount Department Stores |
17 |
| Display Advertising |
13 |
| Document Preparation Services |
16 |
| Drafting Services |
12 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
11 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
252 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
63 |
| Educational Support Services |
21 |
| Electrical Contractors |
210 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
23 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
94 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
6 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
23 |
| Engineering Services |
295 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
37 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
19 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
55 |
| Facilities Support Services |
19 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
117 |
| Family Planning Centers |
6 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
41 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
65 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
108 |
| Flight Training |
10 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
44 |
| Flooring Contractors |
47 |
| Florists |
75 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
3 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
30 |
| Food Service Contractors |
94 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
7 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
12 |
| Framing Contractors |
43 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
48 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
7 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
982 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
40 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
23 |
| Furniture Stores |
127 |
| General Automotive Repair |
281 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
67 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
21 |
| General Rental Centers |
24 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
34 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
151 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
26 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
18 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
38 |
| Graphic Design Services |
59 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
30 |
| Hardware Stores |
31 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
5 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
5 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
52 |
| Home Centers |
22 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
33 |
| Home Health Care Services |
165 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
13 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
48 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
32 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
10 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
3 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
5 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
11 |
| Industrial Design Services |
3 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
15 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
612 |
| Interior Design Services |
41 |
| International Trade Financing |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
7 |
| Internet Service Providers |
13 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
6 |
| Investigation Services |
22 |
| Investment Advice |
88 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
190 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
4 |
| Jewelry Stores |
154 |
| Junior Colleges |
4 |
| Kaolin and Ball Clay Mining |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
27 |
| Land Subdivision |
54 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
24 |
| Landscaping Services |
234 |
| Language Schools |
9 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
37 |
| Libraries and Archives |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
1,047 |
| Limousine Service |
14 |
| Linen Supply |
5 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
25 |
| Locksmiths |
16 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
7 |
| Machine Shops |
32 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
20 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
16 |
| Marinas |
4 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
64 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
5 |
| Masonry Contractors |
66 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
4 |
| Meat Markets |
24 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
6 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
7 |
| Media Representatives |
6 |
| Medical Laboratories |
54 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
28 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
7 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
42 |
| Mobile Food Services |
6 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
63 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
31 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
30 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
20 |
| Museums |
11 |
| Music Publishers |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
15 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
19 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
65 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
87 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
27 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
4 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
14 |
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
79 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
57 |
| Office Administrative Services |
182 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
49 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
46 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
263 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
105 |
| Offices of Dentists |
573 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
932 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
92 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
29 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
32 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
46 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
76 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
4 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
4 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
6 |
| Paging |
4 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
29 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
118 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
79 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
4 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
35 |
| Payroll Services |
17 |
| Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
28 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
23 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
41 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
9 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
126 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
64 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
3 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
6 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Political Organizations |
22 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
62 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
5 |
| Prepress Services |
4 |
| Primary Aluminum Production |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
33 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
27 |
| Professional Organizations |
19 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
20 |
| Quick Printing |
35 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
61 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
17 |
| Real Estate Credit |
285 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
23 |
| Record Production |
4 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
3 |
| Remediation Services |
11 |
| Repossession Services |
9 |
| Residential Property Managers |
164 |
| Residential Remodelers |
118 |
| Retail Bakeries |
30 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
30 |
| Roofing Contractors |
65 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
29 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
42 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
13 |
| Schiffli Machine Embroidery |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
112 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
51 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
8 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
14 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
143 |
| Siding Contractors |
16 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
33 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
84 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
125 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
5 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
5 |
| Software Publishers |
20 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
13 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
4 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
5 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Specialty Canning |
2 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
66 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
54 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
6 |
| Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
87 |
| Taxi Service |
6 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
12 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
19 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
12 |
| Television Broadcasting |
13 |
| Temporary Help Services |
148 |
| Temporary Shelters |
7 |
| Testing Laboratories |
22 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
7 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
42 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Tire Dealers |
76 |
| Tire Retreading |
5 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
19 |
| Tobacco Stores |
12 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
8 |
| Tour Operators |
11 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
3 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
55 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
138 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
55 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
91 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
31 |
| Veterinary Services |
110 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
73 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
34 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
21 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
16 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
7 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
140 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
5 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
144 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
158 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
6 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
6 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Visit the business district of San Antonio and you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Company.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in San Antonio, it's very important that you make sure no other Texas company is using the business name you want to use.
To grow your San Antonio business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in San Antonio or are selling to customers throughout Texas, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
You have a dream -- starting a business in San Antonio. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in San Antonio and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new San Antonioentrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in San Antonio.